The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-07-16

huSOdHu Hdu TOT two years been h. innate with young widow, Madame Rosset, and used to pass all his even- ings with her.
 She did not know how to dissimu- late, or to feign, or to spy, or to lay plans. When he came home to break fast, she simply threw down the letter before him and fled sobbing to her room. He had ample time to under stand, to prepare his answer; and, having done so, he went and knocked at his wife's door She opened it at once, with her eyes down, not daring to look at him. He smiled, sat down, took her on his lap, and then in a gentle, half mischievous tone he said
 "My little darling, it is true that Madame Rosset is friend of mine. have known her for ten years, and think very highly of her; and may also tell you that I know twenty other families whom I have never talked to you about, simply because know you don't care about society and receptions and introductions and all that sort of thing. But now, in order to make an end of all these infamous denunciations, beg you will be good enough to dress yourself immediately after breakfast, and let us make a visit together to this young lady. am sure you will become good friends right off"
 She hugged and kissed her husband and moved by that feminine curiosity which, once aroused, is not easily put to sleep again, she did not even refuse to pay visit to this unknown woman, of whom she could not help still feeling little suspicious. She felt instinctively that danger once known is half averted.
 She entered pretty little room full of charming oddities, decorated with art,-on the fourth floor of a fine house. After five minutes wait ing in drawing-room shadowed by hangings, draperies, and curtains gracefully arranged, door opened, and young woman appeared-very dark, small, little inclined to be stout-who smiled and looked sur- prised.
 Georges introduced them to each other:
 "My wife, Madame Julie Rosset.o
 The young widow uttered little cry of astonishment and joy, and rushed forward, holding out both her hands. She had never hoped, she said, for such good fortune, Knowing that madame never received visitors; but she was so happy-so delighted! She was so fond of Georges (she called Georges with sisterly familiarity that she had always been just crazy to know his little wife, and to be fond of her, too!
 Before the month was over the two women had become insepaable friends. They saw each other every day, often twice day; and dined together every evening, sometimes at one house, some times at the other. Georges now did not absent himself from home any more-declared his business no longer occupied all his time, and saying that he loved to sit by his own hearth.
 Finally, some apartments being va cant in the house occupied by Madame Rosset, Madame Baron at once rented it, so as to be nearer her friend, and more often with her.
 And for two whole years there fol- lowed a acloudless friendship-a friend ship of heart and sou, absolute, ten der, self-sacrifieing, delicious. Berthe could scarcely open her mouth with out pronouncing the name of Julie, who, to her mind, represented perfec- tion itself.
 She lived in happiness-a perfect, quiet, gentle happiness.
 But all of sudden Madame Rosset became very sick. Berthe never left her side. She sat up with her night after night; her husband himself seemed to share all her anxiety.
 Now, one morning, the doctor, after making his usual visit, took Georges and his wife aside, and told them that he considered their friends condition very serious indeed.
 Az soon as he was gone the young couple sat down and looked at each other, in dismay-then both burst into tears. All that night they watched together beside the bed: and Berthe tenderly kissed the sick woman from time to time, while Georges, standing at the foot of her bed, watched her all the while without ever moving his eyes from her face.
 Next day, she was still worse.
 Finally, toward evening, she de- clared she felt better, and constrained her friends to go down stairs to din- ner.
 They were sitting in their own apartments, sadly, feeling no inclina- tion to eat anything, when the house. keeper came in and handed Georges a note. He opened it, turned livid, and, rising, said to his wife in a strange